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BaBylon _______________
HERALD BEaCon
Also serving Babylon, Bay Shore, Copiague, Deer Park, Farmingdale, Lindenhurst, North Babylon, West Babylon, West Islip and Wyandanch
State plans for 110 improvements
Wyandanch schools honor women
Locals earn Dellecave honors
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VOL. 60 NO. 26
JULY 29 - AUGUST 4, 2026
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Residents oppose new proposal By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Every seat in Babylon Village Hall was filled as residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed three-story mixed-use development at 375 Deer Park Ave. during a recent public hearing. Applicant Kenneth Rogers, co-owner of Babylon Plaza Realty LLC with Mark Saglioca, is seeking approval to replace the existing building with a three-story development featuring a restaurant with outdoor seating, retail space and apartments. The proposal drew criticism from neighbors who said the project’s size, traffic impacts and potential nightlife would be incompatible with the surrounding residential neighborhood and the village’s smalltown character. Several speakers referenced Mayor
Concerned resident Kevin Timson calls this proposed development a “blight” that will greatly impact homeowners in the area.
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Babylon schools begin new year with new faces By ALENA BERENBLATT Correspondent
Babylon Board of Education kicked off the 2026-2027 school year with a new president, new board trustee, new student member, and a new theme for the district. Donna Noesi, a teacher in the Middle Country school district and board trustee since 2019, was elected president of the board of education at the annual reorganization meeting. Dave Sonkin, a teacher in the Brentwood school district and board trustee since 2021, was elected vice president. Babylon Schools Superinten-
dent Carissa Manza introduced the new theme for the 2026-2027 school year: Rise, Lead, and Inspire. This follows last year’s theme, We Rise by Lifting Others. “Based on feedback and my own observations, I can confidently say that the community worked together last year to lift everyone up and accomplish great things in the 2025-2026 school year,” Manza said. “I look forward to working with the board of education, leadership team, faculty, and staff to develop goals that ensure our students can continue to meet with success in the upcoming school year.”
Three new faces joined the board at the dais for the July 13 meeting. Marissa Sciremammano, attending her first public session as a board trustee after being elected in May, is a teacher in the Farmingdale school district. Another new face was the exofficio student member, Abigail Love, a rising senior at Babylon High School. Love is the second student to serve as an ex-officio member of the Babylon board of education, following 2026 BHS graduate Katie Bellone. “Katie Bellone is a friend [of mine] and said great things” about her time as the first exofficio student member, Love
said. “I’m excited for the experience. I’m looking forward to seeing how things work.” Also joining the board for the first time was Matt Wells, the district’s executive director of Human Resources. Wells was officially approved by the board at its June meeting. This is a new position for the district. “He brings over 20 years of experience as a teacher, build-
ing administrator and human resources administrator. We’ve already benefitted from his expertise in the short time that he’s joined the team, and we look forward to working with him this year, and for many years to come,” Manza said. The next board of education meeting will be on August 17 at 7 p.m. in the Babylon Junior Senior High School library.